Rio Tinto plc
5 Aldermanbury Square, London EC2
MoreySmith's design for Rio Tinto's new executive offices in the City of London matches a simultaneous revitalisation of the Rio Tinto identity and introduction of new working practices worldwide. The emphasis is now very much on a flexible and open approach to space, but there is still a need for confidentiality, and our design had to achieve this balance. The offices are visited by clients and colleagues from overseas, so while expressing the character of a successful global corporation, we also needed to create comfort for entertaining and stimulation for the workspaces. Here is the café and 'snug' with its padded wall, part of the same space, but differentiated by floor and ceiling finishes.
Winner, BCO (British Council for Offices) Awards 2008
Joint Regional winner, Projects Under 2000 m2
The spacious reception's burnt oak flooring stretches into the café to the right and the corridor to the left, leading to meeting and working areas. Behind the desk is a striking visual expression of Rio Tinto's business - the periodic table, embossed into a backlit zinc backdrop, showing the elements produced by the company.
The café at a busy time. The illuminated, lowered box ceiling defines the space and emphasises its function. The chair backs in the foreground are in the snug; the felt screen to the left separates the eating area from the mobile working desks.
Looking from the cafe space down the timber-floored corridor with dining room on the right and meeting room on the left. At the end, the sliding leather-clad door leads into the hotel-style breakout area, or closes it off when it is not needed.
The low-lit, comfortable breakout area, much in the style of a business lounge, lies between the dining room - through the opening to the right where the sliding door is pulled back - and the boardroom behind the camera. The cantilevered cream lacquer worksurface provides a convenient touchdown for visitors.
Balancing open plan with confidentiality, we separated workspaces with 'part height' storage partitions that define space but do not completely enclose it, and made soft, informal meeting areas in front of the desks.
'MoreySmith has created an outstanding space that provides an
excellent destination for our overseas visitors and colleagues.'
Neil Usher
Rio Tinto's General Manager of Group Property